JP5695581B2 - Apparatus and method for transporting items between conveyors - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for transporting items, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for transporting items from a first to a second conveyor, which substantially offsets the height difference between the conveyors. It can bridge | crosslink with the posture which became.

  Applicant's Dutch patent NL1023107 relates to a continuous vertical conveyor with curved guide tracks and is also adapted to bridge the height difference between conveyors. The disadvantages of the conveyor described in this patent publication include, among other things, wear of an infinite drive.

  The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method of the kind described above, in which one or more drawbacks are at least partially prevented and the wear of the infinite drive is particularly reduced.

  The above object is achieved by a device according to the invention for transporting an item from a first to a second conveyor. The device includes a frame that extends substantially upright, an infinite drive that is disposed on the frame and that can be driven by a motor, and that is connected to the infinite drive and can be driven in a circuit by the infinite drive. At least one support member and at least one product carrier connected to the support member, wherein the product carrier is connected to the support member for rotation about a lateral shaft extending laterally of the frame The product carrier is drivably connected to no more than one infinite drive device, and the support member in the lateral direction of the frame surface is substantially fixed while the support member is framed by the infinite drive device. The support member can be coupled to the frame such that it can move substantially freely along a predetermined path in the plane of the frame.

  In other words, the frame has a height direction, and the support member can move substantially freely along the predetermined path in the height direction by the infinite drive device, while the posture in the lateral direction of the height direction is The support member can be coupled to the frame so that it remains substantially the same. Since the movement of the support member in the lateral direction in the height direction of the frame is substantially limited by connecting the support member to the frame, the posture remains substantially the same in the lateral direction in the height direction. .

  Since the infinite drive device is applied, a predetermined path through which the support member can be moved by the infinite drive device forms an infinite circuit.

  The support member is arranged such that the degree of freedom of the support member in the lateral direction of the plane of the frame is substantially fixed while the support member is substantially free to move in the plane of the frame by an infinite drive. Since it can be coupled to the frame, the support member provides support (rigidity) and freedom of movement to the product carrier at the same time. This allows a single infinite drive device to be sufficient and furthermore only functions as a drive device. For example, in the apparatus shown in NL1023107, the function of supporting the product carrier in which the movement is compensated by the lateral load with respect to the infinite drive apparatus in the lateral direction of the surface of the frame is absorbed by the support member according to the present invention. The infinite drive device on the other hand is lightly loaded, so that the wear of the infinite drive device has already been significantly reduced. On the other hand, one infinite drive is sufficient, thereby further reducing wear. When a plurality of infinite drive units absorb the load together like NL1023107, the difference in elongation between different infinite drive units receiving the load will result in uneven travel, and this uneven travel is It is a major cause of wear. According to the present invention, since such a connection between the infinite drive devices is unnecessary, the wear of the infinite drive device can be greatly reduced.

  In addition to significantly reducing wear on the infinite drive, a further advantage is that the load that can be placed on the product carrier is also greatly increased. This effect is obtained when the product carrier is not directly connected to the infinite drive device by the shaft and the connecting element like NL1023107, but is connected to a support member connected to the frame. By being connected to the frame, the support member can absorb forces in the lateral direction of the plane of the frame. The infinite drive itself only needs to move the product carrier through the support member, and it does not need to absorb any force laterally in the plane of the frame. Because the support member absorbs these forces, the load carrying capacity of the product carrier is increased, thereby allowing a heavier product to be displaced by the product carrier than before.

  A further additional advantage is that the device is easier to adjust because a single infinite drive is sufficient, avoiding the need to run multiple infinite drives as evenly as possible.

  Another additional advantage is that a single infinite drive is sufficient, which allows the device to have a smaller structure, reduces the required parts, and reduces the mass of the device, thereby It is easier to transport and place. Since the number of parts is reduced, the reliability is further increased.

  For the sake of completeness, the phrase “degree of freedom is substantially fixed” is a restriction that significantly reduces movement in this direction relative to the frame, but does not necessarily completely prevent absolute movement. Must be understood as meaning. For example, while such a large load is placed on the product carrier, the frame itself may deform to some extent, but the frame may be assumed to maintain a substantially fixed degree of freedom in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Is possible.

  The translational freedom of movement in the plane of the frame is associated with an infinite drive. The degree of freedom of rotation of the horizontal shaft, which extends with respect to the plane of the frame and by which the product carrier is arranged on the support member, is related to the guiding means. These guiding means are adapted to hold the product carrier in a substantially horizontal position.

  The product carrier is drivably connected to no more than one infinite drive. This infinite drive device has only a drive function, and a support member connected to the infinite drive device has a support function. This support member eliminates the need for the second infinite drive device such as NL1023107.

  Although it is possible to envisage applying a plurality of infinite drive devices that can move independently of each other, according to a preferred embodiment, a single infinite drive device is applied. Since the infinite drive functions only for the purpose of driving the support member and does not need to provide lateral support, a single infinite drive may be sufficient. One skilled in the art will recognize that a device according to the present invention may include a plurality of independently operating infinite drive devices, for example one on each side of the frame. These are infinite drive devices that operate independently of each other, for example, each of which can be applied with respect to their own direction of movement, and it is also possible to assume that the speeds of movement of the two drive devices are different.

  It is expressly noted that the invention relates only to embodiments in which a plurality of infinite drives are applied, where these infinite drives are independent of each other. Independent means that one product carrier is drivably mechanically connected to no more than one infinite drive and the infinite drives are not interconnected.

  Of course, it is possible to envisage a plurality of product carriers drivably connected to one common infinite drive. These product carriers distributed at a distance from each other on an infinite circuit increase the transport capacity in proportion to the number of product carriers.

  According to a further preferred embodiment, the infinite drive device is stretched between at least the upper traveling wheel and the lower traveling wheel, and at least one of the two traveling wheels can be driven by a motor. Since the traveling wheels are arranged on top of each other, the endless drive device stretched over these traveling wheels provides a drive extending in the height direction on the frame extending substantially upright. . The apparatus is thereby suitable for transporting goods between conveyors with different altitudes.

  According to a further preferred embodiment, the degree of freedom of the support member in the lateral direction of the plane of the frame is substantially fixed, while the support member is substantially freely movable in the plane of the frame by an infinite drive. As is the case, the support member can be coupled to one or more traveling wheels of the infinite drive. Since the support member can be coupled to one or more traveling wheels, these traveling wheels function as a support, while the support member travels through the curved portion. Due to the connection to the running wheels, the support member can move only to a slight extent in the lateral direction of the plane of the frame, whereby this degree of freedom is substantially fixed. Although it is possible to assume that the support member travels on a plate-like surface such as the front plate of the frame, the connection with the traveling wheel may cause a relative stop between the support member and the traveling wheel. It has the further advantage of. This relative stop means that the traveling wheel is displaced with the movement of the support member, so that the traveling wheel and the support member are substantially stopped relative to each other. Wear between the two parts is thereby minimized.

  Since the support member according to this preferred embodiment can also be connected to one or more traveling wheels and frame of the infinite drive, the support member is provided on the support providing portion, respectively the frame or traveling wheel, substantially over the entire circuit. Can be coupled, thereby ensuring the freedom of the support member in the lateral direction of the plane of the frame during the entire movement through the infinite circuit.

  Although it is possible to envisage that the frame surrounds the support member, in a preferred embodiment, the support member comprises a frame and / or a running wheel in order to obtain a connection between the support member and / or the running wheel. Surround at least partially. Since the support member itself surrounds the support providing part formed by the frame or the traveling wheel, it is possible to connect the supporting member to the traveling wheel. This ensures connection during travel through the entire circuit.

  According to yet another preferred embodiment, the frame includes a guiding wall in the vicinity of the traveling wheel for guiding at least the side of the support member far from the traveling wheel. The side of the support member that is remote from the running wheel, i.e., the side of the support member that follows the outer curve, can be guided on the guide wall and thereby connected to the frame. In addition to the connection to the running wheel, the connection to the frame outside the curved part is thus ensured even during the passage of the curved part.

  According to yet another preferred embodiment, the support member is provided with wheels having a coefficient of friction of less than 0.1. It is possible to envisage a sliding contact by means of a slide shoe between the support member and the support-providing part, respectively the frame or the running wheel, but it is possible to use a low, for example nylon or high quality homogeneous polyurethane elastomer or polyamide. If an abrasion resistant material with a coefficient of friction is used, it is preferred that a wheel be applied. Since these wheels can roll, the frictional resistance is further reduced. During the passage of the curved portion, in addition to the rolling movement of the wheel, a guided movement of the wheel also occurs, and in this case, a low friction coefficient of less than 0.1 is desirable.

  In addition to slide shoes and wheels, it is also possible to assume that a ball race is applied. A ball race includes a ball shell filled with one large ball supported by a number of small balls. The advantage of ball races is their high load carrying capacity.

According to another more preferred embodiment, the support member wheels are made of nylon.
According to another further preferred embodiment, the device further comprises guiding means adapted to hold the product carrier in a substantially horizontal position, the guiding means being in pairs with at least four in contact with the guiding track. Includes induction wheels.

  According to a further preferred embodiment, the device comprises a plurality of support members distributed at a distance from each other on an infinite drive, each of which has a product carrier connected thereto. By applying a plurality of product carriers, preferably distributed over approximately equal distances, an increase in the capacity of the device can be obtained.

  According to a further embodiment, the first and / or second conveyors are rope conveyors or roller conveyors, and the product carriers are arranged generally parallel and at a distance from each other, Includes fingers for lowering between or between rollers of a roller conveyor. This prevents product transfer. This is advantageous for unstable products or products with variable dimensions. The product carrier always supports the product arranged on the product carrier, thereby avoiding having to grip the product, for example with a clamp or a suction cup.

  According to yet another preferred embodiment, the distance between the ropes of the rope conveyor and / or between the rollers of the roller conveyor is at least greater than the width of the fingers, so that these fingers are connected in a reliable manner. It can be moved between ropes and / or rollers.

  According to another more preferred embodiment, the endless drive includes a rope, chain, belt or cable.

  The invention further relates to a method for transporting goods from a first to a second conveyor, wherein the product carrier is driven by a motor until the product carrier is at a higher position than the first conveyor. The product carrier takes the product from the conveyor, and the product carrier is fed into one or less infinite drive devices. Drivably connected and further comprising the step of moving the product carrier downward to a position below the second conveyor, wherein the product remains on the second conveyor, and the connection of the support member to the frame further A step of substantially fixing the degree of freedom, the substantially fixed degree of freedom being directed laterally of the plane of the frame while the support member is The endless drive can be substantially freely move in the plane of the frame.

The invention further relates to a method in which the apparatus described in this document is applied.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be further elucidated by the following description with reference to the drawings.

It is a perspective front view of the conveying apparatus concerning this invention. It is a cutaway perspective front view of the conveying apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a cut perspective rear view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective front view of a product carrier having an associated support member according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective rear view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3. It is a detailed perspective front view through which a support member passes a curved part. FIG. 7 is a detailed perspective rear view of the state shown in FIG. 6.

  The apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 for conveying items such as products 6 from a first conveyor 2 to a second conveyor 4 includes a frame 8 extending substantially upright. The frame has a front face 10 that includes a guide wall 14 and a front plate 16. The frame 8 further has a back surface 12, a side wall 18, and a top wall 20. Arranged on the frame 8 is an endless drive 24, which in the illustrated embodiment is a chain, which is adapted to move one or more product carriers 28 along the frame 8, The height difference between the first conveyor 2 and the second conveyor 4 can be bridged. In the illustrated embodiment, the first conveyor 2 is a rope conveyor and the second conveyor 4 is a roller conveyor. Product carrier 28 is rotatable about a lying shaft that extends laterally (in the X direction) of the frame and is connected to support member 26 (FIG. 2). The support member 26 can be coupled to the frame 8 such that the degree of freedom of the support member 26 is substantially fixed in the lateral direction of the surface of the frame 8. In FIG. 1, this direction is indicated by X. The support member 26 can be moved substantially freely in the plane of the frame 8 by the infinite drive 24, which plane is represented by the directions Y and Z.

  FIG. 2 shows how the infinite drive 24 is stretched between the upper traveling wheel 32 and the lower traveling wheel 34 and can be driven. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper traveling wheel 32 can be driven by the motor 22 so that the product carrier 28 can be moved up and down along the frame 28. Support member 26 is further coupled to guide means 38 including guide wheels 40 and associated guide track 42. These guide means 38 are adapted to hold the product carrier 28 in a substantially horizontal position and bring the four guide wheel 40 pairs at a time into contact with the guide track 42 mounted on the frame. This leads to this (FIGS. 2 and 3).

  In the detailed view of FIG. 4, the support member 26 is depicted partially cut away by omission of the front plate 50 of the support member 26. FIG. 4 thereby shows how the support member 26 is placed on the infinite drive 24 by the connecting element 54. The support member 26 is provided with wheels 36 a to 36 d mounted on the support member 26 by a shaft 56. The product carrier 28 is attached to the support member by a shaft 30 and can be rotated around the shaft 30 such that the product carrier 28 is held in a substantially horizontal position by the guiding means 38. The guide means 38 includes a guide wheel 40 shown in FIG. 4, which can engage on a guide track 42 (see, eg, FIG. 5).

  Support member 26 includes a total of eight wheels 36a-d, each wheel 36a located on the inner radius of the infinite circuit and on the front side, and wheel 36b also located on the front side but on the outer radius of the infinite circuit. The wheel 36c is arranged on the inner radius on the back side, the wheel 36d is arranged on the rear side, and follows the outer radius of the infinite circuit. The wheels 36a and 36c together surround the strip 60 of the frame 8 while the wheels 36b and 36d surround a similar strip 62 of the frame 8 to connect the support member 26 to the frame 8.

  Product carrier 28 includes fingers 44 having dimensions such that these fingers 44 of product carrier 28 can descend between rope 46 of rope conveyor 2 and rollers 48 of roller conveyor 4.

  In the posture of the support member 26 shown in FIG. 6, when the wheels 36a and 36c pass the curved portion, the support member 26 surrounds the traveling wheel 32 of the infinite drive device 24, while the wheel located on the outer radius of the path. It can be seen that 36 b and 36 d transition from a state surrounding the strip 62 to a state surrounding the guide wall 14 of the frame 8. The guide wheels 40 of the guide means 38 run against the guide track 42 so that the product carrier 28 is held substantially horizontal while the support member 26 passes through the infinite circuit curvature. The wheels 36a and 36c are displaced at substantially the same speed as the traveling wheel 32, so that there is a slight relative difference in speed. Wheels 36a and 36c can remain substantially stationary, and wheels 36b and 36d surround guide wall 14 and move along it. In addition to the rolling movement, the wheels 36b and 36d also perform a slight sliding movement here, for which purpose the wheels are embodied with a low coefficient of friction material, for example nylon. The cutaway rear view shown in FIG. 7 clearly shows how the wheel 36c surrounds the traveling wheel 32 and how the wheel 36d of the strip 62 transitions to the guide wall 14.

  While the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown, the foregoing embodiments are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the details of the invention in any way. The scope of the invention is therefore defined only by the appended claims.

Claims (21)

An apparatus for transporting items from a first conveyor to a second conveyor,
A frame that extends substantially upright, and
An infinite drive device arranged in a frame and driven by a motor;
At least one support member connected to the infinite drive and capable of being driven in a circuit by the infinite drive;
At least one product carrier connected to the support member, the product carrier connected to the support member for rotation about a shaft extending in a direction perpendicular to a plane in which the support member moves. And
The product carrier is drivably connected to only one infinite drive;
The support member includes a first wheel arranged to roll along the front side of the frame, and a second wheel arranged to roll along the back side facing the front side of the frame. The support member at least partially surrounds the frame between the first wheel and the second wheel;
While the degree of freedom of the support member in a direction perpendicular to the surface on which the support member moves is substantially fixed, the support member is located within the surface on which the support member moves by the infinite drive device. An apparatus capable of coupling the support member to the frame so as to be movable along a predetermined path.   The device according to claim 1, wherein one infinite drive is applied.   2. The device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of infinite drive devices movable independently of each other are applied.   4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein at least two product carriers are drivably connected to a common endless drive.   The infinite drive device is stretched between at least the upper traveling wheel and the lower traveling wheel, and at least one of the two traveling wheels can be driven by a motor. The device described in 1.   While the degree of freedom of the support member in a direction perpendicular to the surface on which the support member moves is substantially fixed, the support member is within the surface on which the support member moves by the infinite drive device. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the support member can be coupled to one or more traveling wheels of the infinite drive so as to be movable.   7. An apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the support member at least partially surrounds the frame and / or the travel wheel to obtain a connection between the support member and / or the travel wheel.   The apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the frame includes a guide wall in the vicinity of the traveling wheel for guiding at least a side of the support member far from the traveling wheel.   The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first wheel and / or the second wheel of the support member includes a wheel having a coefficient of friction of less than 0.1.   The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first wheel and / or the second wheel of the support member is made of nylon.   11. The guide means of claim 1 further comprising guide means adapted to hold the product carrier in a substantially horizontal position, the guide means comprising at least four guide wheels in contact with the guide track in pairs. The apparatus of any one of them.   12. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of support members to which product carriers are coupled and distributed on the infinite drive device at a distance from one another.   The first and / or the second conveyor is a rope conveyor or a roller conveyor, and the product carriers are arranged generally parallel and at a distance from each other, between the ropes of the rope conveyor or the 13. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising fingers for lowering between rollers of a roller conveyor.   14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the distance between the ropes of the rope conveyor and / or between the rollers of the roller conveyor is at least greater than the width of the fingers.   15. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the infinite drive comprises a rope, chain, belt or cable. The support member includes the first wheel on the front side of a part of the frame and the second wheel on the back side of a part of the frame opposite to the first side. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 15. The support member further includes a front plate on the front side of a part of the frame, and a back plate on the back side of a part of the frame opposite to the first side, The apparatus of claim 16, wherein one wheel is mounted on the front plate and the second wheel is mounted on the back plate. 2. The support member at least partially surrounds the frame and / or the traveling wheel of the infinite drive to couple the support member with the frame and / or the traveling wheel of the infinite drive. 18. The apparatus according to any one of 1 to 17. A method for transporting items from a first to a second conveyor, comprising:
The support member to which the product carrier is connected is moved up along a frame extending substantially upright by an infinite drive driven by a motor until the product carrier is higher than the first conveyor. The product carrier obtains product from the conveyor, the product carrier is drivably connected to only one infinite drive, and the support member is along the front side of the frame A first wheel arranged to roll, and a second wheel arranged to roll along a back side facing the front side of the frame, wherein the support member is at least the first wheel Partially surrounding the frame between the second wheel and the second wheel, and
Moving the product carrier downward to a lower position than the second conveyor, the product remains on the second conveyor, and
A step of substantially fixing the degree of freedom of the support member by coupling the support member to the frame, the substantially fixed degree of freedom being perpendicular to a plane on which the support member moves. A method wherein the support member can be moved in the plane in which the support member is moved by the infinite drive while being oriented.   20. A method according to claim 19, wherein an apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 18 is applied. 20. The support member at least partially surrounds the frame and / or the traveling wheel of the endless drive to couple the support member with the frame and / or the traveling wheel of the endless drive. Or the method according to 20.

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